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Ultrastructure of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) halitrophus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) parasite of flounder

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Abstract

The ultrastructure of the camallanid nematode Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) halitrophus, a parasite of flounder, is described for the first time by the use of transmission electron microscopy. The body wall is composed of an outer cuticle, a hypodermis, and a muscular layer. The cuticle comprises the epicuticle, the cortical, median, fibrous, and basal layers. The cortical layer is subdivided into an outer zone and an inner zone; the median layer is subdivided into an outer layer, rich in electrondense fibrils, and an inner layer, which does not contain these fibrils; the fibrous layer is subdivided into three regions delimited by electrondense lines; the basal layer presents electrondense sustaining structures. Underlying the basal layer is the hypodermis where many organelles are observed. The musculature is striated, and each muscle cell consists of individualized contractile and noncontractile regions. Inclusion bodies are present in the muscle fibers, hypodermis, hypodermal chord, and in the intestine.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Miss Aleksandra Menezes de Oliveira (PhD student), Laboratório de Biologia de Helmintos Otto Wucherer, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, for valuable suggestions; to Mr. Sebastião da Cruz (in memorian) and Ms. Noemia Alves for technical support. This work was supported by Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação Universitária José Bonifácio (FUJB), Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and Programa de Núcleos de Excelência (PRONEX/MCT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Biologia de Helmintos Otto Wucherer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco G, Ilha do Fundão, 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    M. Q. Cárdenas & R. M. Lanfredi

  2. Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco G, Ilha do Fundão, 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    W. De Souza

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  1. M. Q. Cárdenas
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  2. W. De Souza
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  3. R. M. Lanfredi
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Correspondence to R. M. Lanfredi.

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Cárdenas, M.Q., De Souza, W. & Lanfredi, R.M. Ultrastructure of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) halitrophus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) parasite of flounder. Parasitol Res 97, 478–485 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1477-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1477-5

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